I've used vodka, lemon extract and clear vanilla. I'm sticking with clear vanilla from now on, though. I LOVE the smell and it's the cheapest! However, I have heard that lemon extract has the highest evaporation. I did not find that and prefer vanilla. I'm not a vodka drinker and would rarely have it in the house.

Extracts have an alcohol "base". Evaporates like any other ETOH. If I say vodka is flavorless, someone will have to comment they can taste vodka...well, I can taste lemon and vanilla extracts. If you are worried about the use of vodka and "Friends of Bill"...(trust me on this) they eat cake all the time.

I think you are talking about coloring the fondant. I use the same gel colors that I use for buttercream but it always change my consistency. I can't wait to hear other's answers. My white MMF is good but not the colored one.

Just a little bit of gel color on a toothpick and your vodka or vanilla. I just sort of know how much now. Maybe like 6:1 ratio? 9:1? hard to say...anyone know the official ratio? I often do 2 coats to get the color saturation right. I much prefer painting fondant to using edible markers.

When I paint on MMF I dilute the gel color more if I want a lighter color and less if I want it darker. here is a picture to show the difference one color can make with more or less vodka. the sky and landscape were both painted.